Introducing Saltbush, Balnarring Beach 

Exciting change at Presentation Family Centre

In 2022, Presentation Family Centre will be introducing a new trading name, Saltbush, Balnarring Beach.  Over the course of the year, this will become the name that we are known by. Saltbush, Balnarring Beach was chosen because it evokes proximity to beach and bush and reflects the importance of the local Mornington Peninsula environment where saltbush is abundant. 

Guests frequently refer to the natural, local environment when describing their experiences here.  Saltbush, Balnarring Beach captures the feeling of a natural place, embedded in its environment, and open to welcoming guests for a range of experiences including independent holidays, school holiday programs, and retreats.

The new name has been chosen with the support of Kildare Ministries and the Presentation Sisters who established the centre in 1989 and whose vision remains at the heart of Saltbush, Balnarring Beach.

Multicultural Encounters Festival

In January, Saltbush, Balnarring Beach (Presentation Family Centre) hosted its first ever Multicultural Encounters Festival, in partnership with Wellsprings for Women. The festival was an opportunity to create connections between culturally diverse groups, and celebrate Victoria's multicultural character through food, and visual and performing arts. 

The festival also created an opportunity for the three Kildare Ministries’ Community Works to collaborate and support the diverse groups who use their services.  The Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project (BASP) organised transport to Saltbush, Balnarring Beach for forty families, who were well fed by the capable cooks from Wellsprings.  Wellsprings also arranged for many of their families to attend, and we were pleased to see many people from the local Mornington Peninsula community.   Overall, we welcomed over 200 people to the festival, which was held entirely outdoors on a beautiful sunny day.

The food was a highlight of the festival, with a multicultural feast of qabuli palau (rice) with kurma bamya (okra) and borani banjan (eggplant), chwabi (minced meat kebabs), samosas and a selection of sweet treats. We also had delicious Middle Eastern food from Gourmet Hummus food truck, and a sausage sizzle run by the Balnarring Scouts. Guests enjoyed workshops for Zumba, Bollywood dancing and African dance, as well as henna tattooing and other art activities, and we thank all our artists and performers for their time and talent.  

The festival was well supported by local groups including the Balnarring & District Community Bank, Rotary Club of Rosebud & Rye, Red Hill Show Committee, Red Hill Lions Club, Red Hill Op Shop, the Mornington Peninsula Shire, as well as the Victorian Multicultural Commission.  

Thank you to all who attended our first ever Multicultural Encounters Festival, we hope you had a wonderful day of food and fun. We look forward to welcoming and continuing to collaborate with KM Schools and Community Works at Saltbush, Balnarring Beach. 

Rachel Connor

General Manager

Saltbush, Balnarring Beach 

(Presentation Family Centre)